"Three projects for a resilient and sustainable Swedish industry
Published: April 17, 2023
In the summer of 2022, Vinnova financed three extensive projects that will contribute to a self-sufficient and resistant, resilient, industry. It is about sustainable energy supply in industrial areas, self-supply of critical metals for battery manufacturing and on-demand manufacturing of spare parts in the process industry. We took the pulse of the projects with a few months left until the first delivery.
The corona pandemic and the disruptions it caused in global supply chains put the spotlight on the industry's vulnerability to imports of certain components. When the energy crisis came after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, another dimension was added to the need for industrial self-sufficiency and resilience.
In the spring of 2022, Vinnova made a call with the aim of funding system demonstrators for resilient production, a way to test and demonstrate entire system solutions in a real but limited environment. Four projects were financed in the resilient supply of energy, raw materials and components. Of these, three have continued to work and will present the results from the first phase, a preliminary study, in autumn 2023.
The projects work with a mission-oriented approach, which means that you gather all actors who have an impact, such as industrial companies, regions, universities and startups, and set a common goal via an anchoring process. In the analysis work, one actively works to capture needs and solutions within the five areas that together constitute a so-called system perspective: culture and behavior, infrastructure, technology, business models and policy/regulations.
The combination of the three components - resilience, system demonstrators and a mission-oriented way of working - is not completely uncomplicated, but Vinnova believes that it is right for the purpose as you need to mobilize actors from many parts of society in order to reach a working solution to a complex social challenge.
Self-supply of metals for electric cars
One of the projects is In Calm Mind, which is about creating self-sufficiency in the metals needed for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.
- Sweden has become a real battery country, but manufacturing is based on us getting the raw materials from, for example, China. We want to build the demonstrator to show the risks, thresholds and obstacles that exist and how we can overcome them. So that we don't build large battery facilities but then there is no material available, says Linus Brander at Rise, who is the project manager.
One of the project's biggest challenges is therefore to find ways to make the permit processes for mining metals faster but still with sufficiently good quality for the environment and people.
The vision, says Linus Brander, is that by 2050 at the very latest, 80 percent of battery production for Swedish needs will be built from recycled material that was also once extracted and refined in Sweden.
Less vulnerable industries with their own energy system
Another project is the Energy Port in Malmö, a pilot project to develop a sustainable and self-sufficient energy system that will make industries less vulnerable to access to external electricity and gas.
The project has not yet identified exactly what the solution should look like. A sustainable energy source must generate electricity that can be connected to a battery store where it can be stored. One of the companies in the core group is Texel Energy Storage, which manufactures batteries for energy storage of renewable energy, and which plans to start a larger production in Malmö.
- We are looking at various possible system demonstrators as a partial solution. In 10-15 years' time, we want to have fulfilled the sustainable energy system Energihamnen in Malmö, says Per-Johan Wik at Sustainable Business Hub, who is the project manager.
Sustainable production of spare parts
The third and last project is about on-demand manufacturing of spare parts for the process industry in North Central Sweden. In order not to risk production being at a standstill, a lot of spare parts are currently kept in stock, which means both high storage costs and the fact that not everything may be used. Today, it is also common to build spare parts from largely unnecessary material because it is cheaper to leave it behind than to remove it, explains project manager Nicklas Tarantino at Sustainable Steel Region. When spare parts are also shipped from other parts of the world, the environment and climate are negatively affected. Spare parts could be manufactured locally and regionally in a more environmentally and resource-efficient way.
- We want to streamline so that the suppliers can produce when the industry needs it. Manufacturing on demand is nothing new, but we need to work on meeting the need faster with digital tools. We are also looking at production methods that involve more additive manufacturing. If you use 3D printing to produce a product, you only use exactly as much material as you need, says Nicklas Tarantino.
Announcement of stage 2 in May 2023
By autumn 2023, the preliminary study projects must be ready, then the solutions for system demonstrators must be so clearly described that they can then be built. The next part of the call, which opens in May, is about building the system demonstrator itself. There is the possibility of funding of SEK 20 million per project for two projects, and the grant can amount to a maximum of 40 percent of the project's total eligible costs. The project can last for a maximum of five years. From the Agency for Growth, the projects can simultaneously apply for EU funding via the regional fund programs (ERDF funds), which enables further upscaling of the investment.
The system demonstrators can be described as an intermediate phase, a demo machine that is tested before being able to scale up on a larger scale. With the announcements, Vinnova wants to bring about a system change. If you can prove that by gathering a broad consortium and agreeing on how to build resilience on a small scale, then it can then be scaled up in the region nationally within about ten years.
Facts about the projects
In Calm Mind – Swedish self-sufficiency and circularity of metals for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.
Project partners: Rise, Chalmers, Luleå University of Technology, Västra Götaland region, Region Västerbotten, Fortum recycling and mining and
graphite anode company Talga.
Energihamnen – a sustainable and self-sufficient energy system for an area with, among other things, industries in Malmö's harbor area.
Project partners: Sustainable Business Hub, Eon Energy Solutions, Malmö city and Region Skåne.
On demand manufacturing for resilient production (DEM-ON DM) – On demand manufacturing in Sweden of spare parts for the process industry.
Project partners: Sustainable Steel Region, companies in the steel and manufacturing industry, Karlstad University, Region Dalarna, RISE and Sandviken Municipality.
Resilient production
A resilient production is characterized by:
- Ability to react to external disturbances.
- Ability to return to the original state, or be moved to a new and more desirable state, after being disturbed.
This can apply to shocks regarding, for example, the environment, geopolitics, energy supply, finances, equipment, raw materials, skills, distribution, logistics, customer markets and partners."
https://www.vinnova.se/nyheter/2023/04/tre-projekt-for-en-resilient-och-hallbar-svensk-industri/
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"Health & Safety Manager till Talga
Uppdaterad: 2023-04-15
Publicerad: 2023-04-15
The future is green, and we’re moving there fast.
Talga is enabling this transition by establishing a sustainable, vertically integrated European source of advanced materials and battery anode for the burgeoning lithium-ion battery industry. With ownership of the world’s highest grade natural graphite deposits, access to clean Nordic renewable energy, and streamlined production processes, Talga is uniquely positioned to become a key player in the growing green economy.
With operations in northern Sweden; R&D and sales in the UK; processing and distribution in Germany; and our corporate office in Western Australia, Talga is truly a global company.
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic professional who is passionate about creating a safe working environment and making a positive impact on the health and safety of our employees and the environment.
With production in the north of Sweden, research, R&D and Sales in the UK, distribution in Germany and Commercial Headquarter in Australia, Talga is a global employer. Our products will be used across many touchpoints of people’s lives – from the battery technology in electric vehicles and smartphones, to advanced graphene materials which will make consumer and industrial products stronger, longer-lasting, lighter and greener. With us, you will have impact. We make decisions and take actions that have a strong positive effect. We act with intent and care to create products with a purpose for the companies that are defining the future.
The Role
As the Health & Safety Manager at Talga Group, you will lead efforts to create a healthy and safe working culture, implement changes for increased awareness of work environment dangers, develop and implement health and safety policies, ensure compliance with legal requirements, measure and improve health and safety performance, manage accident/incident investigations and employee rehabilitation, support project implementation of health and safety guidelines, evaluate practices and procedures for risk assessment, manage emergency response plans, work with cross-functional teams to ensure a safe work environment, and promote a culture of safety organization-wide.
In the role you have several internal stakeholders based in different parts of the world. Your key partners are Site Manager, People & Culture Manager, Project Manager of the mine, Environmental Manager, etcetera. You report directly to the People & Culture Manager.
Your responsibility includes, among other:
- Leadership for building a healthy and safe working culture, including implementing policies, standards, and guidelines.
- Ensuring legal compliance with OSHA regulations, CE marking, and other applicable laws.
- Communicating, training, and inducting new employees, vendors, consultants, and contractors on Talga's standards and procedures.
- Managing accident/incident investigations, injury management, and rehabilitation of employees.
- Supporting project implementation of health and safety guidelines and standards in all project development stages.
- Evaluating practices, procedures, and facilities to assess risk and adherence to the law.
- Creating and implementing risk management procedures, including emergency response plans.
- Supporting project management team in reviewing and following up on BAS-P and BAS-U work during projects.
- Participating in early-stage risk assessments for new sites.
The role is based in Luleå. Traveling is needed, especially to the mine in Vittangi, international travels can occur.
Is this you?
To be successful in this role, you should have a BSc/BA in safety management or a relevant field, and preferably have completed a professional certification program in health and safety management. You should have proven experience as a safety manager, with a minimum of 5 years of experience in a related position, preferably in the chemical industry, mining industry is meritorious. You should have a deep understanding of legal health and safety guidelines, a valid qualification in occupational health and safety, and good knowledge of data analysis and risk assessment. Fluency in Swedish and English is required for this role.
In addition, it is desirable for you to have experience in working with ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 for compliance. Knowledge of Seveso requirements is also desirable. Familiarity with Chemical Management Systems like CIMS and SDS, as well as HIRA Tools such as JHA and FMEA, would be a plus. You should be accustomed to working with Emergency Response Planning Tools, such as response plans and evacuation plans, and ensuring their effectiveness for efficient emergency management. Lastly, having a track record in developing Health and Safety Training Programs, including training, would be beneficial.
In this recruitment, we value key personal attributes such as strong leadership skills, passion for fostering a safe working culture, and effective communication in health and safety principles. Essential skills include report writing, policy development, proficiency in IT and Microsoft Office, and ability to handle pressure while maintaining schedules. Desired qualities include organizational and motivational skills, attention to detail, observation ability, care for the environment, and a sense of achievement in delivering positive environmental outcomes through projects.
Do you want to know more?
In this process Talga is working with Level Recruitment. To apply, please press apply. If you have any questions, please contact Recruitment Consultant Stina Koskijev at 08-120 50 421, or email
stina.koskijev@levelrecruitment.se. Please note that applications will not be accepted by email. The selection process is ongoing.
Please apply with CV in English based on the requirements.
You are welcome to submit your application!"
https://www.di.se/lediga-jobb/health-safety-manager-till-talga/
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